Los Angeles Rams’ 2026 Roster Has Officially Made NFL History — This Has Never Happened Before
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2026 season with high expectations and, along with that, a unique place in NFL history.
After reaching the NFC Championship Game last season, the Rams made a lovely move by trading for Myles Garrett, one of the league’s best defensive players. Adding Garrett to an already talented roster immediately made the Rams one of the top teams to watch.
The move also helped create an NFL first. According to ProFootballTalk’s Michael David Smith, the Rams are the first team in league history to start a season with both the reigning NFL MVP and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year on the roster.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford enters the season as the reigning MVP, while Garrett joins the team after winning Defensive Player of the Year honors. No other team has entered a season with both of those award winners at the same time.
There have been a few close examples in the past. The San Francisco 49ers had MVP Steve Young and Defensive Player of the Year Deion Sanders in 1994, but Sanders left before the next season. The New York Giants had Lawrence Taylor win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 1986, while Alan Page accomplished a similar feat with the Minnesota Vikings in 1971.
Now, the Rams will try to turn this historic combination of star power into a Super Bowl run.
Rams Focus On Winning Now While Planning For The Future
The Rams paid a steep price to acquire Garrett. They sent away their first-round pick in next year’s draft along with Day 2 selections in 2028 and 2029.
The aggressive move shows the team’s focus on winning immediately. Stafford remains one of the league’s top quarterbacks, but he also stands near the end of his career. Head coach Sean McVay has also faced questions in recent years about how long he wants to continue coaching.
That reality creates a clear window for the Rams. Many observers see 2026 and possibly 2027 as prime opportunities for a Super Bowl run.
Still, the organization appears to have one eye on the future. During the NFL Draft, the Rams surprised many people by selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round. The team identified Simpson as Stafford’s eventual successor.
If Simpson develops into the player the Rams expect, the franchise could move smoothly from one quarterback era to the next. That possibility gives Los Angeles hope beyond the current championship push.
For now, though, the focus stays on 2026, and how the Rams will utilize such a talented roster in football remains to be seen.
